In addition to the Ministerial staff employed on temporary contracts, there is one person employed on a contract basis in my Department (0.6 on a whole time equivalent basis — WTE).
My Department collects quarterly data on the numbers employed in local authorities and State bodies under the aegis of my Department. The number of persons employed on a contract basis in the State bodies under the aegis of my Department at the end of March 2012 was 33.5 (WTE). The number of persons employed on a contract basis in the local and regional authorities at the end of March 2012 was 969.14 (WTE).
The provision of services by agency staff to local authorities or State bodies is a procurement issue and is a matter for each local authority and State body as part of day to day management and operations.